House hunting can be a daunting task. When you are a talented designer with a very specific vision which includes no flat ceilings, great flow and space for living and working, it increases the challenge to “needle in a haystack” magnitude.

“We wanted a home that was bright and clean with a modern yet comfortable aesthetic. After many, many house tours, and many unsuccessful offers, we finally stumbled upon our home in North Hollywood”, explains Mollie Ranize, Founder and Lead Designer of DMAR Interiors.

New construction with a modern vibe, open floor plan and vaulted ceilings, the 3 bedroom, 3 bath home had one more must-have – space for Mollie’s design studio.

“The moment we saw this house, I knew we could build out the perfect design studio that was both functional and creatively stimulating”, says Mollie. “My brain started racing and I was really excited about the idea of a quiet, organized work environment.”

With a hectic life and thriving design business, Mollie wanted the home to be soothing and relaxing – “someplace you can walk in and take a deep breath”.

“The house was beautiful when we moved in, but because it was new construction it had no soul. I’ve been working on adding that soul with collected pieces that bring their own sense of history. Whether it’s a vintage crab-shaped ash tray, the pair of slipper chairs reupholstered in a fresh clean linen, I am always on the lookout for special pieces that will enhance the space.”

“As funny as it may sound, my modern sanctuary is our home bar. It’s full of big memories and small treasures. There’s a bottle of wine from our wedding, a bottle of bourbon (my husband’s favorite) that our realtor gave us when we closed on our house, a sampling of port that we picked up on a trip to Porto, Portugal, even the empty bottle of champagne that we drank the night we got engaged. It’s also the perfect place for fresh flowers and various vintage finds we have collected through the years like our brass duck head and anchor bottle opener. It seems like every time we have friends or family over to the house the bar plays a leading role. Every time I open it up a flood of great memories wash out. I can’t wait to see what memory goes in there next!”

“I love the way that our combined furniture pieces and collected items all complement each other. It feels like they were put on earth to end up in this house. Every room now feels comforting and serene, but there are hidden treasures that speak subtle stories everywhere you look. It really feels like home, and we want our guests to feel just as comfortable. After 8 months of adding personal touches, I would say it has a pretty rich soul.”

“I’m big on organization. I knew I wanted someplace that gave us room to be creative but at the same time it couldn’t be overdone. I left the concrete floors raw to signal that this is a space to be creative and do work. It’s not too precious.”

The custom built-in is a perfect example of form meeting function. “I designed it with bleached white oak and interlaced steel accents and it looks really luxurious.The goal of adding elegant pieces was to provide a juxtaposition to the more industrial floors and clean, understated white storage you see elsewhere in the office.”

With over 15 years of experience designing residential, commercial and hospitality spaces, Mollie Ranize has become one of the most sought after designers in Southern California. With a focus on design that is not only visually pleasing, but ultimately, functional, she creates client centric spaces informed by her “3 T Rule”, which emphasizes an aesthetic that is Tasteful, Tailored and Timeless.

A LEED-accredited designer, Mollie has been featured on a variety of HGTV programming including House Hunters Renovation and Flip or Flop. She has also been frequently tapped to design spaces for House Crashers, which airs on DIY Network and HGTV. Mollie’s success in designing these spaces hinges on solving design dilemmas creatively while getting the biggest bang for the buck.

Mollie resides in North Hollywood with her husband and 2 boys: Simon, a 3-legged border collie rescue and Bennie, the 10 pound street pup found in Echo Park while investigating a flipped home. Mollie is a passionate member of the Los Angeles design community and regularly participates in non profit design projects for charities throughout the city including the Good Shepherd Center, The Teen Project and SPCALA.

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